Allyson Gofton

Pear and almond pie

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Serves: Makes 8 pies

Ingredients

1 pear, cored, peeled and diced

2 tablespoons orange juice or Grand Marnier

75 grams softened butter

¼ cup caster sugar

2 eggs

70 gram packet of ground almonds

½ cup fine semolina

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla essence, optional

beaten egg or milk to glaze

caster sugar to sprinkle on top


Method

1.  Toss the pear and orange juice or Grand Marnier together and set aside while preparing the filling.

2.  In a food processor or bowl, put the butter, caster sugar, eggs, almonds, semolina, baking powder and vanilla essene and process or beat for 2 minutes until creamy.

3.  Take one sheet of puff pastry and cut in half on the diagonal to make odd-shaped triangle. Spread the edges with the beaten egg or milk. Spread one large spoonful of cake mixture over half the triangle, leaving a 1cm border. Sprinkle a few pieces of pear on top.

4.  Fold the remaining half of the triangle pastry on top of the filling and transfer to a greased baking tray. Press the edges firmly together by using the tines of a fork, dipped in flour to prevent it sticking to the pastry, which will be slightly damp from the beaten egg.

5.  Make three slashes on top of the pie and brush with egg or milk to glaze. Sprinkle over a hearty spoonful of caster sugar. Repeat with remaining pastry, filling and pears to make eight pies.

6.  Bake at 200ºC for 15 minutes until well risen and golden. Serve hot or cold with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.


Cooks Tips

Variations
- Substitute ½ cup flour for the semolina.
- Use apples, feijoas, nashi, canned pears or peaches in place of pears.
- Use only half the semolina and add half a cup of desiccated coconut.
- Make the pies with butter pastry sheets or filo pastry in place of puff pastry. There are no comments for this recipe. You can leave a comment below.
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Pre-rolled sheets of puff pastry are just fabulous for making pies in an instant. This recipe is really fast, and the filling can be thrown together in the food processor or beaten by hand. Great for a dessert, a special afternoon tea or a summer picnic.